Chapter 86 - 85: Give Me Your Wife
That night, several of Fifth Prince Xia Wushang’s properties in White Jade City were burned to the ground, resulting in devastating losses.
Upon receiving the news, Fifth Prince Xia Wushang, who was under house arrest in the Gold and Silver Palace, flew into a rage. Just as he was preparing to retaliate, he received word that the Wude Palace had been robbed. The Third Prince Xia Wuchen’s favorite Top Level Weapon, the Dragon Roar Sword, had been stolen, and even the High Level Miracle Treasure, the Dragon Saliva Grass he had just acquired, was gone.
The vast study had been ransacked, and almost nothing of value was left behind.
What stunned him even more was that traces of Gilded Gold Powder, unique to the Gold and Silver Palace, were found in Third Prince Xia Wuchen’s study.
This made Fifth Prince Xia Wushang fall silent, and a sliver of doubt rose in his heart. He didn’t suspect Third Prince Xia Wuchen of framing him.
Only a fool would deliberately frame someone right after being put under house arrest. At the very least, they would wait for the situation to blow over.
The circumstances were so similar to his own robbery, and this time, he was certain he hadn’t done it.
’Could someone... be deliberately sowing discord?’
The thought surfaced in his mind. Fifth Prince Xia Wushang’s brows furrowed, and he refrained from retaliating rashly.
But in this vast Imperial Palace, who could possibly steal from the Gold and Silver Palace and the Wude Palace one after another, and then do this to him?
A chill ran down Fifth Prince Xia Wushang’s spine. He felt a surge of alarm and decided to investigate the matter thoroughly.
However, while he wanted to investigate thoroughly, Third Prince Xia Wuchen was unwilling to wait. He continued his retaliation, and even when Fifth Prince Xia Wushang sent people to clarify the situation, the Third Prince didn’t stop.
The conflict between the two escalated further. Whether it was intentional or instigated by someone else, Xia Wuyang’s plan had worked.
He now had more time for peaceful Cultivation. He had also exacted a small bit of revenge on his two enemies, collecting some interest for now.
’When the time is right, I’ll send them both to their graves.’
Besides, he had reaped quite a few good things from the two of them during this time: the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, Seven Hundred Year-Old Monkey Wine, the Dragon Roar Sword, the Dragon Saliva Grass... Truly befitting of the two most powerful and wealthiest princes of the Great Xia Royal Family.
’I’ll have to keep a close eye on them from now on. The moment they get their hands on something good, I’ll take it. It’s just returning things to their rightful owner. It’s what they should be giving me as compensation anyway.’
Spirit +1!
A new day dawned, and Xia Wuyang’s Spiritual Power increased once again. This spurred improvements in other areas as well: his Body Refining Cultivation, Refining God Cultivation, Cultivation Foundation...
At his current pace, it would only take about half a month to fully consolidate and adapt. Then he could consume the Dragon Saliva Grass and significantly raise his Cultivation Realm once more.
He had thought that his progress would slow down considerably after entering the Upper Three Grades, but he hadn’t expected Third Prince Xia Wuchen and Fifth Prince Xia Wushang to be so generous. They had brought him one good thing after another, allowing him to improve so much in such a short time.
’Such good people!’
Thanks to his recent "string of illnesses," Xia Wuyang now only spent one or two hours a day indulging in pleasure, using the rest of his time to cultivate in secret.
His Cultivation Techniques, Combat Techniques, and Secret Techniques were all improving rapidly. The Stealth Technique was long since at Perfection, the Escape Concealment Sword Technique had also reached Perfection, and the Cyan Bamboo Sword Technique was at Great Success.
He had long since grasped the eleventh level of the Enchanting Heart Technique, but his Spiritual Power was still insufficient. He had a long way to go before breaking through to the eleventh level’s Extraordinary Realm.
Once he stepped into the Extraordinary Realm, his Refining God Cultivation would reach a whole new level. At that point, even if he faced a Super Grade Celestial Human, a single use of the Soul Capturing Technique would be enough to make them bow in submission.
This was the gap between the mundane and the Extraordinary. Even if only his Refining God Cultivation ascended, he would possess an unpredictable, godlike power.
If he had just a few more months, even without practicing the Enchanting Heart Technique, his Refining God Cultivation might just evolve into the Extraordinary Realm on the strength of his Seven-Aperture Exquisite’s Supreme Talent alone.
That day was drawing ever closer. Xia Wuyang looked forward to it with great anticipation, letting time flow by.
Early one morning, just as he was about to "share a big bed" with a few new Palace Maids and then "naturally" use fatigue as an excuse to hide away and cultivate in his Practice Room, he was disturbed by a sudden commotion.
Before Xia Wuyang could hide under the covers, a middle-aged man in a Python Robe strode into the Sleeping Palace, his expression grim and sinister.
Several Guards with formidable auras followed behind him, clearly indicating ill intent.
It was the Fourth Prince, Xia Wulei, a Fourth Grade Perfect Martial Master. He had once been on good terms with Xia Wuyang, but after Xia Wuyang was deposed, their relationship grew distant. His coveting of Xia Wuyang’s Consort had caused their relations to sour even further, and he had even killed one of Xia Wuyang’s loyal servants in the past.
"Eldest Imperial Brother, it’s been a while!"
The Fourth Prince, Xia Wulei, spoke politely upon seeing Xia Wuyang, but his gaze swept disdainfully over the beautiful women in the palace, a look of contempt clear on his face.
Xia Wuyang quickly hid in the arms of a Palace Maid, feigning panic. "Fourth Brother, what brings you to the Eastern Palace?"
"Let’s not beat around the bush. I came today for Second Class Attendant Pan." Xia Wulei sat himself down in the main seat, stared coldly at Xia Wuyang, and stated his purpose.
Xia Wuyang’s eyes narrowed slightly. Second Class Attendant Pan’s real name was Pan Mo. She came from a scholarly family in Jiangnan and possessed a gentle, water-like grace. She was virtuous, charming, and carried an air of classic, nation-toppling beauty.
Over the years, even after he was deposed, even after he had repeatedly insulted her and forced her to use her family’s power to find Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures—which caused a falling out with her family—she had never abandoned him.
Ever since he had become "critically ill," Pan Mo had tried to visit and care for him many times, but he had refused her entry. ’The time isn’t right,’ he thought. ’I have to wait until I have the strength to deal with anything.’
"What about Second Class Attendant Pan?" Xia Wuyang asked, feigning ignorance.
Xia Wulei sneered. "Eldest Imperial Brother, why play dumb? We both know that Second Class Attendant Pan is deeply in love with you. She even said she would follow you in death. I can’t bear to see such a beauty perish, so I’ve come to ask you to grant my wish."
Xia Wuyang frowned. He had thought that after Pan Mo had explicitly rejected Xia Wulei decades ago, the man would have given up. He never expected him to still be pestering her after all these years.
Using the Soul Capturing Technique, Xia Wuyang read Xia Wulei’s surface thoughts. It turned out he had been harassing Pan Mo for the past few years, showing no regard for him, the Crown Prince, whatsoever.
This had become especially worse as Xia Wuyang grew old and decrepit, "not far from death’s door."
Just yesterday, he had even tried to force himself on Pan Mo, but she had threatened to kill herself. She told him explicitly that she would rather be buried alive with Xia Wuyang than ever become one of his concubines.
Seeing that Pan Mo wasn’t joking and was truly prepared to die, a helpless Xia Wulei had come to find Xia Wuyang, intending to use him to force her into submission.
’He really sees me as less than an animal. It’s one thing to try and steal a concubine who deeply loves me, but to ask me, her husband, to help force her into submission?’
’To be so utterly lawless... Fourth Prince Xia Wulei is completely deranged.’